Taking on board the philosophies of Japanese design and combining them with one of the country’s most recognised natural resources, Yu Jian’s range of bamboo stationery is a masterclass in modern contemporary design.

Using hollowed bamboo stems with polished metal details, the range includes everything from a humble ‘bulldog’ clip and pencil sharpener to a USB hub and analogue desk clock.

Click here to see the full range

USB Stick

Pencil Sharpener

Stapler

Pencil Case

Tape Dispenser

USB Hub

Paper Clip Box

Roy Lichtenstein should need little introduction and for the first time in over 20 years is the subject of a major retrospective at Tate Modern from now through until the end of May.

If you’re unable to make it to the exhibition itself, Tate Shots have released this three minute short walking us through the 125 painting, drawings, collages and sculptures on view.

Key works such as ‘Look Mickey’,'Whaam!’ and ‘Drowning Girl’ are all featured alongside more recent paintings like ‘Landscape With Boat’ from 1996 which sees his usual bold colours replaced with a monochrome palette and minimal serene subject matter influenced by early Chinese masters.

Every office girl’s favourite sugary beverage, Diet Coke, continues their design collaborations this month as Marc Jacobs gets his hands on the iconic bottle.

Bringing a typically poppy and colourful twist to proceedings, the bottles have been released to celebrate Diet Coke’s 30th Anniversary in Europe and will be available from selected outlets later this month.

In the meantime, there’s some great Marc By Marc Jacobs bargains in our womenswear section via the link here

Ringo Starr is to be the subject of an American exhibition, Peace & Love this summer

While Peter Blake is starring on his first album cover, former-Beatle Ringo Starr is the subject of a new exhibition which includes his own art work.

The GRAMMY Museum, will debut Ringo: Peace & Love on June 12, 2013. This one-of-a-kind, limited-run exhibit will offer visitors an unprecedented in-depth look at all aspects of Starr’s musical and creative life – as a musician, artist, actor.

The scope of exhibit spans Ringo’s early life growing up in Liverpool, from Raving Texans turned Rory Storm, from The Beatles, to becoming a solo artist and then to the All Starrs with whom he is on tour now.

This unique collection brings together diverse artefacts, rare and never before seen photographs, documents, personal letters and footage.

More information can be found on Ringo’s official site here.

2013 marks the 150^th anniversary of the London Underground and what better way to celebrate than with public art? Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger has created 270 pieces (one for each station) of what he feels represents the Tube.

His theme, aptly chosen, is labyrinth, based on the idea that when you first start using the Tube it can be like a maze to the untrained rider.

The designs, which represent a cross section of the brain, will be emblazoned in black on white enamel panels in each Tube stop in the capital.

Already installed is Oxford Circus, Bank and Baker Street, with the full collection to be finished by June.

If you’re in the city, make sure you check these out when you get off the Tube… and remember… mind the gap!

Croatian born Maljkovic is heading north for the spring – and more precisely heading for The Baltic.

Sources In The Air is the latest large scale exhibition by the renowned artist and features work from his early days right up until the present.

We love a bit of culture in the North East and this is one cultured gallery outing we won’t be missing and it all starts on 15 March.

http://www.balticmill.com/whats-on/exhibitions/detail/david-maljkovic

Sick of losing change down the back of the sofa? Or maybe you’re cheeky and want to be the one finding all the change? If so this clever chair could be just for you.

The aptly named Artful Dodger is a rocking chair designed by Sam Lomingshum during his University days. Doubling up as a petty thief, the chair cleverly collects coins as your victims sit on it and rock back and forth (let’s face it – who can resist rocking on a rocking chair?!).

The coin snatching chair is not your ordinary rocking chair, it has the ability to recline further than your standard one, ensuring everything from mobile phones, money and keys fall out ready for collection.

The Design Museum has released its list of nominees for the highly anticipated Fashion Designs of The Year awards. This year marks the sixth year of the awards which are quickly becoming  a coveted title to have against a brand.

Insiders have scoured AW12 collections, costume design and advertising to pick the most innovative and design led fashion houses.

Contenders for this year include; Prada, Commes des Garcons and Proenza Schouler alongside costumes designed by Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina, and not forgetting Louis Vuitton’s spot filled capsule collection by Yayoi Kusama.

Last year the design crown was won by Issey Miyake for its technical structure work.

The exhibition is unveiled to the public on the 20 March until 7 July.

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2013/designs-of-the-year-2013

Responsible for some of the most creative fashion advertising campaigns from the last 20 years, a new exhibition of Juergen Teller’s works will open at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London next week.

The German photographer is probably most well-known for his long-standing collaboration with Marc Jacobs, which has seen him put Victoria Beckham inside a giant Marc Jacobs shopping bag, while telling the Spice Girl “you’re a product”, as well as posing naked himself for the designer in a previous campaign.

The exhibition will feature many of his renowned campaigns, as well as some of his more provocative images, including several images of Kate Moss, including one of her in bed at the Ritz after her 25^th birthday, as well as iconic portraits of Vivienne Westwood.

Juergen Teller: Woo runs from January 23 to March 17 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London

http://www.ica.org.uk/34587/Exhibitions/Juergen-Teller-Woo.html

Starbucks has gone all green on us, giving its drive-thru and walk-up store in founding state Seattle a recycled-makeover.

The largest coffeehouse in the world was keen to reduce its environmental footprint, reusing four refurbished shipping containers that previously carried their produce from abroad.

In total, the containers create an area of 450 square foot with an additional 20ft container for recycling, rubbish and storage.

This is one of the first steps the coffee chain has taken in becoming a greener business and as well as being sustainable it looks pretty cool.

‘Are video games art?’ is the question asked by a new exhibition at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

The gallery clearly think they are and has put an end to the everlasting debate by switching from Picasso to Pac Man for the exhibition which opens in March 2013.

The exhibition will house popular creations including Tetris, Pac-Man and The Sims.

The museum aims to get people to focus on appreciating video games from a different angle, noticing their visual, design and functional standpoints.

So will the controversial exhibit be a winner or will it be game over?

For us it’s a definite winner but follow this link and decide for yourself. http://ind.pn/UVsbhM

Sparkling, flamboyant nails have never been as popular as they are today and 2013 sees no limits to the nail art trend.

Now that the countdown has begun for the last week before Christmas, we suggest adding festive fun to your nails.

Swap swirls and stripes for reindeers and Christmas puddings, adding plenty of jewels and sparkles along the way.

Experiment with colours and designs  to complete your Christmas ensemble.

The artist whose pop art defined an era is back with his biggest retrospective since 2007.

Peter Blake, famous for creating The Beatles’ ’Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album cover, is celebrating his 80^th birthday in style this year with a new exhibition.

Rock, Paper, Scissors is currently showing at the Waddington Custot Galleries in London until December 15^th.

As well as the classic works the retrospective features new works by the artist.

A few of our favourites we’ve posted below. We’re loving the Comic Book Convention Comes To London! Interested? Take a look here http://bit.ly/QlzTkz

The animated desk lamp is a familiar feature at the start of any Disney Pixar movie.

For most people it first appeared hopping along the screen at the start of Toy Story.

Now a team of students from Wellington University, New Zealand, have used clever animatronics to further enhance the life-like features of the lamp.

The students have named their lamp Pinokio and produced a rather special video.

In the video you can clearly see how the lamp, thanks to a specially designed algorithm, electronics and built in webcam, can respond to human movement and sounds.

The lamp acts in an almost childlike way, craving attention and looking around. The video is well worth a watch.

Recently photographed as GQ’s ‘Obsession of the Year 2012′ with a stunning set of images by Mario Sorrenti, Rihanna has had another highly successful year marking her out as one of the world’s sexiest and most in demand celebrities.

From her modelling for Armani underwear to her amazing performance on X-Factor last week, this girl can do no wrong.

For more Rihanna magic, GQ have released this behind the scenes video from their recent shoot.

Watch the video here.

At the tender age of 84, William Klein is one of the most influential photographers and film makers of our lifetime.

Currently enjoying a retrospective at Tate Modern, he is considered one of the pioneers of street photography with his images of 1950′s New York being instantly recognisable.

Also a celebrated fashion photographer who spent 10 years working for Vogue, he has directed a number of important movies including the Haute Couture fashion spoof ‘Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?’ and the first documentary about Muhammad Ali.

The William Klein Retrospective continues throughout this month and runs through into 2013.

Brad Pitt is taking a break from being in front of the camera and is instead positioning himself behind the drawing board and trying his hand at designing furniture.

He has collaborated with New Jersey deco-furniture maker Frank Pollaro, who stumbled across Pitt’s doodle-filled sketchbook of fantasy designs.

The finished creations include a dining table supported by a single scribble of timber, a marble bath tub for two and a fusion of deco and doodles resulting in a very peculiar looking bed…

With his quirky designs and obvious aversion to conventional furniture legs, we will leave it to you to decide whether or not the Hollywood superstar should just stick to acting.

The collection is now on show in New York.

Ever wondered what it’d be like to take a look through a fashion designer’s keyhole?

Well, this month’s World of Interiors magazine features homes from some of the biggest names in fashion.

From Vivienne Westwood’s humble abode (pictured above – we are as shocked as you about how demure it is!) to the effortless chic of the Armani residence, it’s a ‘through the keyhole’ fashionistas dream come true!

Sarah Burton, Versace, Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier are some of the other fashion elite letting the world see inside their decadent living spaces.

The World of Interiors fashion edition is out now.

Image courtesy of The World Of Interiors

If like many of the Van Mildert team you’re taking part in Movember this year and need a little bit of quirky inspiration look no further. We’ve found some magnificent Movember-inspiring artist moustaches.

From Van Gogh’s auburn, unkempt mess, to Henri Matisse’s beastly beard, to Salvador Dali’s surreal, flicked ‘bull horns’ there is undoubtedly an extreme style for every guy wanting to spice up their fundraising facial hair. Even Rolf Harris sports a stylish tash – can you guess what it is yet?

So go on – pay homage to the artistic geniuses of past and present and make your tash a work of art.